Elysian Memories
Vintage photos honoring Elysian's history during Minnesota's Sesquicentennial Year
Step back in time a hundred years ago and this would be the scene visitors experienced as they drove into town. Dirt roads, wagons, wooden sidewalks, and a bustling business district. Back then, prominent buildings included the hotel and City Hall on the right. The little brick house on the left outlasted all the structures. It still stands on Main Street today, creating a connecting point with Elysian's past.
Elysian's Main Street has been home to many businesses over the years. In this photo from the early 1900's, shops are busy with wagons and automobiles sharing the parking spaces. The photo was taken from where City Hall stands today, looking east.
Stand in the same location as the photo above, flash forward 50 years and this would be the scene. Wagons replaced by cars. Original shops renovated into new storefronts. Gravel road instead of dirt. Observing Main Street from the same spot today shows Elysian knows the value of preservation as many of the buildings pictured here have stood the test of time and continue serving the community.
One of Elysian's best known and beloved icons is the red brick schoolhouse. Built in 1895, it served as Elysian's school for 70 years, then began a new life as the Le Sueur County Historical Society Museum. The schoolhouse steeple can be seen from miles around and marks the spot Elysianites call "History Hill."
It is amazing to think of the things that have taken place on Elysian's Main Street over the years. In this photo, it's the 1912 street fair with a tightrope walker performing for a crowd gathered in front of Roots Drug Store. That building now houses Elysian's newest business, Nana's Nook. Sam Terrell submitted this postcard for web visitors to enjoy.
A well-known business of yesteryear, the building that once housed Pribyl Bro's. Garage still stands on Main Street. The Studebaker poster and logo in the window dates the photo to around 1920. Studebaker made wagons for decades, then ventured into the automobile business in 1902 with the electric car. The company switched to gasoline engines in 1912. Fueling up on Main Street is a memory shared by many Elysianites.
It wasn't that long ago that a hotel welcomed guests on Main Street. The Elysian Hotel was located at the corner of Second and Main where the Fire Hall now stands. It continued to operate into the 1950's, giving Elysian visitors the option of staying in town if a lake resort didn't suit their fancy. For some, the hotel was home. Families took up residence in suites that included a dining room and kitchenette. Many remember the lobby having an elegant staircase. The Elysian Hotel may be gone from Main Street but part of it remains in the community. When the hotel was torn down, the bricks were used in 1965 to build a house that stands today on Sixth Street.
Enjoying the lakes has always been part of the Elysian experience. A postcard published by W.K. Wilcox shows a launch on Lake Francis. Everyone aboard is dressed in their best for the ride in a boat named "Old Glory." It must have been a special occasion. A 4th of July excursion? Perhaps this photo captured the Wilcox entry in the annual Lake Francis boat parade.
During October of 1911, William H. Taft went on a 13,000 mile cross country tour to discuss issues of the day with constituents. On his way through Minnesota, the president (at center on train deck) made stops in several small towns. Six days later, while in Chicago, Taft signed papers proclaiming Nov. 30, 1912 as the nation's first Thanksgiving Day holiday. Taft had many firsts during his term. He was the first president to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game, first to occupy the new Oval Office, first president to own an automobile and most likely, the first president to visit nearby Madison Lake. A commemorative postcard, pictured above, was created by The Elysian Enterprise as a keepsake of the historic moment.
Recreation has created memories for generations of Elysianites and tourists. Boating, picnics, fishing and playing baseball...all part of summertime fun. A postcard from the Elysian Museum archives captured a team from the past posing on the State Bank steps at the corner of First and Main. No date appeared on the card but the original ownerwrote some of the players on the back: Ed Chase, C. Bosacker, Frank Meierbachtol, Jim and Tom McNeil, Gene Ellingsworth, Brockway, McDermott and Brady.
While holding a Memorial Day service has gone by the wayside for some communities, marching to the cemetery with flowers is a tradition Elysian continues. On this day back in the early 1900's, when a group marched on Main Street, people would have referred to it as Decoration Day as it was first called on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
At the turn of the last century, this would've been a typical scene in the heart of downtown Elysian. Both of the structures pictured still stand at the intersection of First and Main. The former bank now houses an antique shop. The building to its left served as the Post Office and was once home to The Elysian Enterprise. At the time of this photo, horse-drawn buggies shared the dirt streets with motor cars. Nearly eighty years would go by before Elysian"modernized" in 1993 with pavement on the main drag.
Our community shines each summer when we present the annual 4th of July celebration. The streets are filled with booths, games and vendors. The Grand Parade brings a big crowd of thousands to little Elysian. One hundred years ago, it was the Street Fair that attracted people to our town. In this 1912 photo, the crowd gathered at First and Main to watch the performers. Bringing the community together through memorable events is an Elysian traditionand a proud part of our history.
Did you know that at one time Elysian had a Cornet Band? The 10-man group posed along Main Street for this postcard photo. Names on the back include Harry Short, Al Zellmer, Joe Pfeifer, Joe Hebl, Charley Warner and Harry Rohlfing. No information about where they performed, but surely, the music they made created memories for many Elysianites.
Summer nights in a cabin, fishing, cookouts and family times on the lake. Many good memories were created at the Woodbine Resort on the south shore of Lake Francis. For two generations, the tourist spot was run by the Hruska family. The late Louis Hruska was the last owner after taking it over from his parents. Today, a townhome community occupies the land where the little cabins once stood. To honor the memories and preserve a piece of Elysian's history, it's called Woodbine.
"Welcome to Elysian!" Back in the day, the depot on Highway 60 was a busy place with travelers coming and going, supplies and mail arriving. When the train tracks gave way to the Sakatah Singing Hills Trail, the community said goodbye to the depot, hello to a wayside rest, and ushered in a new era. Even though many things have changed since these folks stepped off the train, today's travelers can still count on Elysian's hospitality. Hundreds experience that when they come to town for the annual Rookie's Triathlon. They start their visit in the same spot where thedepot once stood, and are greeted by community volunteers as they step off the trail for a day in Elysian.
Elysian's city offices have a new home after moving a block west into the newly remodeled building at 110 W. Main. Throughout Elysian's history, City Hall has moved up and down Main Street. Government services had been in the Elysian Mall since 1987. Prior to that, they were located on the corner now occupied by the city shop and fire department. Pictured above is Elysian's original City Hall which still stands on Main Street today. An open house was held in July once the new City Hall settled itself in again on Main Street to begin a new era in Elysian's history.
Photos courtesy of the Elysian Museum photo archives.
To learn more about Elysian's history, read the story of how the town began.
